Making and Storing Formula For Baby

Breast milk is the only food your baby needs for first 6 months. But due to the various reasons such as health issues of the mother or the baby, the mother might decide to shift to formula milk. Whether you decide to feed formula milk to your baby since from the beginning or supplementing breast milk with formula milk or shifting from breast milk to formula milk, you will be stuck up with loads of questions about making and storing the formula milk due to the infections it could cause in your tiny tot. So, here is the proper method of making and storing of formula milk without causing infection in your baby.

Preparation of Formula Milk:

· Bottle sterilization: Sterilize the nipples and bottle in boiling water for 5 minutes or store-bought countertop or microwaveable sterilizer. It is advised to sterilize the bottle and teat before each use to avoid infection.

· Boil the fresh tap water (at least 1 L) in the kettle. (Don’t use the water that has been re-boiled)

· Let the water to cool for not more than 30 minutes. The ideal temperature of the water after cooling should be near to 70 oC.

· Clean up the surface that you are using for preparation of formula milk and also disinfect it. Wash your hands as well to avoid infecting the formula milk.

· Keep the bottle on cleaned and disinfected surface. According to the manufacturer’s instructions, add the mentioned amount of water and then add powdered formula.

· Holding edge of the teat, place it on the bottle and tighten the retaining ring onto the bottle. Cover it with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved.

· Cool the formula so that your baby doesn’t burn his mouth. This could be done by holding the bottle under the cold running water. Check the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist.

· Throw away the unconsumed formula milk in the bottle.

Storing of the Formula Milk:

1. Ready-to-feed formula:

The ready-to-feed formula milk left over in the bottle should always be discarded if it is not consumed within 2 hours.

The opened container of the ready-to-feed formula milk could be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours. It should be discarded after that. If the container is not opened yet, it could be stored in a cool dry place.

2. Concentrated liquid formula:

If the container of the liquid concentrate formula is unopened, it could be stored in cool and dry place. If it is opened, keep the cans of liquid concentrate formula covered and store it in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

3. Powdered Formula:

The unopened container of the powdered formula could be stored dry place. Once the container is opened, store it with the lid closed tightly. It should be used within 1 month of opening. To make it easier for you to remember, write the date of opening the container on the lip of powdered formula container.

Do’s and Don’t’s about making and storing formula milk:

· Instructions on preparing the formula differ from one manufacturer to the other. Make sure you follow it accurately as the extra powder to the water constipate or dehydrate your baby and less powder could not give sufficient nourishment to your baby.

· Don’t add cereals or sugar to your baby’s formula.

· Never warm or heat the formula in the microwave as this may heat up the food unevenly and cause burns in your baby’s mouth.

· Always make only one bottle at a time to avoid wasting the formula.

· To store the baby formula, make sure the temperature in the fridge is 4 oC (39 oF) or lower than that.